World Still Is Divided By The 'Invisible Walls'

November 09, 1999|The Morning Call

To the Editor:

Ten years ago, on Nov. 9, 1989, the seemingly impenetrable Berlin Wall began to crumble. Vast changes followed in quick order, such as the unification of Germany, the collapse and break-up of the Soviet Union, and the establishment of new countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Between 1971 and 1988, I conducted eight trips with Moravian College students to Berlin. Each time we stared at the Wall from both sides, in West and East Berlin, unlike most East Berliners who never were allowed to visit West Berlin. On each of these trips, we speculated on the year the Wall would be removed, if ever. My response was always the same. Eventually the Wall shall have vanished, but probably not during my lifetime.

Well, the Wall in fact is gone today, while I am still around.

The Berlin Wall was an evil monstrosity. For 28 years it separated Germans from Germans, it helped repress the freedoms of the citizens of the German Democratic Republic (which was not a true democracy), it prolonged the Cold War, and from its wall fortifications, deadly shots were fired at those East Berliners determined to escape. And in 1989, this Wall of shame fell, along with its bankrupt and inept government. It surrendered to a non-violent citizen's movement that sought freedom, justice, and economic and political renewal.

We may draw one important lesson from this. Walls built in cities rarely promote good will and justice. Walls, demonstration lines at barriers, and corridors such as we have witnessed in Beirut, Belfast, Sarajevo, and Berlin tend not to unite, but to divide. They create hatred, anguish, fear, social restrictions, police surveillance, and so often, violence and death.

Visible walls that divide people should never be built again. But in most societies, invisible walls of prejudice, racism, discrimination, segregation and exploitation still stand. These walls often separate whites from African-Americans and Hispanics, Westerners from East Asians, Christians from Jews and Muslims, Serbs from Albanians, heterosexuals from the gay community. Once these invisible walls are seen clearly, they can be overcome through dialogue, economic and social justice and equality, and with a commitment to promote tolerance and humanity. This should be our goal for the 21st century.